Dispute over medication called trigger for man's attack on mother

SALEM — An 18-year-old Salem man facing two charges of assault with a deadly weapon attacked his mother with a knife and a hammer, police said, because he believed she was withholding medication from him.

Thomas George of 103 Cluff Crossing Road was arraigned on the charges Thursday in Salem District Court.

In the aftermath of the alleged assault, police engaged in a three-hour manhunt for George that led to Derry and back to Salem. As a result of the incident, Salem High School and several schools in Derry were placed on a precautionary lockdown.

An affidavit filed in Salem District Court by Salem Detective Steve Woidyla states that George's mother, Catherine George, called police around 8 a.m. on Thursday and stated that her son had just stabbed her in the neck.

Officers who arrived on the scene found Catherine George bleeding from wounds to her neck, leg, and hand. She was transported by Salem firefighters to Lawrence (Mass.) General Hospital, and because of the severity of her injuries, she was later taken by Med-Flight to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

According to a detective who interviewed Catherine George, George stated that her son is prescribed Adderall for medical conditions. George said she believed her son was taking a higher dose than was prescribed to him, and that on Wednesday, Oct. 23, he began to become angry at his mother for withholding the medication.

The following morning, according to Woidyla's affidavit, Thomas George entered his mother's room holding a hammer in one hand and a knife in the other demanding his Adderall.

"Catherine complied and gave the medication to Thomas," Woidyla stated. "At this point, Thomas attacked her by stabbing her in the neck, leg, and hand. She stated that Thomas also hit her on the head with the hammer as she tried to defend herself."

After she was injured, George said, her son held her down and told her to bleed out.

After leaving the house, Thomas George allegedly drove to Derry, where he stole a car and drove back to Salem, leaving that vehicle in the Rockingham Park parking lot.

A police officer who was securing the scene at Cluff Crossing Road saw Thomas George return to the house on foot. The officer, who noticed that George was shirtless, barefoot, and had blood on his left foot, took George into custody.

George is currently being held on $250,000 cash bail.

Deputy Police Chief Shawn Patten said detectives are continuing to investigate the incident and there could be additional charges brought against George.